Veterans’ voices gain opportunities for artistic airing

Recommended activities for the coming week

There is no manual for veterans when it comes to re-entering civilian society after spending time in the service. There are all manner of challenges to face and lessons to learn, and it is easy to imagine feeling disoriented when faced with such overwhelming changes.

Some veterans deal with these stresses by creating art that expresses their experiences in a healing way. And in January, Colorado Humanities, Colorado Photographic Arts Center, the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, Colorado Creative Industries, Hemera Foundation and RedLine Contemporary Art Center are presenting events to share the works of these artists.

“Colorado Humanities believes that amplifying voices of those who have experienced conflict as military veterans and engaging them in conversations with non-military community members is one way we can help veterans who struggle to integrate in their home communities when they return from deployment,” explained Bess Maher, Veterans Writing Program coordinator with Colorado Humanities. “I’m hopeful this program will amplify the voices of veterans and military service members who are also writers and artists, inspire other veteran writers and artists, and bring attention to veterans’ issues.”

The first event is a reading at 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 11, at BookBar, 4280 Tennyson St. in Denver, by contributors to the anthology, “Still Coming Home: Denver Veterans Writing.”

The second event is a series of three discussions called “Personal Visions: Discussions with Veteran Writers and Artists.” The discussions will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 16, 23 and 30 at the Colorado Photographic Arts Center, 1070 Bannock St. in Denver. Each event will feature different participants, so audiences can attend as many as they would like.

“These events are a great first step for civilians who want to learn more about what it means to be a veteran,” Maher said. “And anyone interested in the creative process will find something interesting in these discussions.”

Greenwood Village’s Curtis Center for the Arts, 2349 E. Orchard Road, and Greenwood Village City Hall, 6060 S. Quebec St., are celebrating the history of the horse and ways the animal is still a part of modern life with two horse art exhibits. Both shows run concurrently through Feb. 23.

The “Horse Power” exhibit at the Curtis center features works from contemporary artists from across the country and includes several life-size horse sculptures. “Caballo de Fuerza,” housed at city hall, is a display of historical horse artifacts on loan from Museo De Las Americas in Denver’s Santa Fe Arts District.

As a society, we love a good bit of competition, especially when it leads to rankings. That’s why one of the most common questions music critics are asked is who was better — the Beatles or the Rolling Stones?

Instead of debating the question, the Oriental Theater, 4335 W. 44th Ave. in Denver, aims to settle the dispute with Beatles vs. Stones — A Musical Showdown. This dueling concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 13.

The Beatles will be represented by tribute band Abbey Road and will face off against Rolling Stones tribute band Satisfaction. This battle royale is not to be missed by fans of either group or lovers of classic rock.

One of my favorite aspects about rap as a genre is the wide breadth of artists that can fit under its umbrella. There is room for big, cinematic acts like Kendrick Lamar, Drake and Travis Scott to take over the pop culture, while gritty street chroniclers like Roc Marciano and jazz poets like Mick Jenkins can still build a devoted fanbase.

Jenkins released one of the most soulful and lovely rap albums of 2018 with “Pieces of a Man.” In support of the album, Jenkins will be performing at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 15, at the Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave.

For a taste of what makes modern rap the most exciting and enlightening genre around, get your tickets at www.bluebirdtheater.net.

Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.